Friday, August 30, 2013

Labor Day Weekend is upon us.... and for kids around the country that means... Back-To-School! I can hear the moans and groans of children everywhere and the silent cheers of their parents. At least, I am told that as a parent you are more than ready for this momentous occasion. I, myself, have not experienced this... yet.

This is a big year in our home. Our oldest child is headed off to preschool! We have been preparing by reading books about going to school, shopping for new school clothes, and picking out her first backpack. This is definitely a day I will want to remember.... and I look forward to all the first days of school ahead of us.

Hallmark has the perfect way to keep track of those memories. Their "Pics and Props: My First Day of School Kit" has everything you need to document the very first "first day".... all the way to the very last "first day."

This kit comes with a 5x7 photo album, chalkboard with chalk, inserts for preschool through 12th grade, and journaling cards to document your child's first day of school thoughts.

I LOVE this idea. I can't wait to take her first day of school picture and start this wonderful book of memories. Some things I want to include on her page for preschool are what she wants to be when she grows up and what she is most excited about at her new school.

Pictures are truly worth a thousand words and this is the perfect way to see how your child grows and changes over the next few years. In the end... this book will be priceless.

I received this amazing Back-To-School package from Hallmark and I am excited to share it with one lucky winner! Check out all that you will receive. The kit I mentioned above and a bunch of greeting cards to send to family and friends!

And I will be sure to post my daughter's first day of school photo using her cool new Pics 'N" Props!

Be sure to check out Hallmark on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest news!

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

About the Movie
An ordinary day at Fernfield Farms turns extraordinary when Budderball, Mudbud, B-Dawg, Buddha and Rosebud discover mysterious rings that grant them each a unique super power. Before you can say, “Buddies, assemble,” the pups unleash their amazing abilities and race to the rescue when a shape-shifting bully from outer space threatens the planet. But can they succeed in kicking major tail without revealing their new secret identities?

A must-own movie event packed with laughter, action and incredible new characters, ‘SUPER BUDDIES’ proves when you use your wits and work together, you don't need super powers to be a super hero!

My Thoughts:
My daughter is a huge fan of the 'Buddies.' She has been following them through all kinds of adventures, so she was very excited to learn that she was going to get to help Mommy review their latest movie, Super Buddies. So we all settled in with popcorn for a fun family movie night.

From a kids perspective this movie has it all. The puppies are adorable and my daughter adores the fact that they talk. She thinks it is the silliest, cutest thing. Each puppy has their very own personality. These personalities have traveled with them from movie to movie, so my daughter feels like she really knows them... and has her favorite - Rosebud. These little pups are always getting into trouble. They are adventurous, a little sneaky, very silly, and loyal to each other. The action of this movie kept things moving at a nice pace. She couldn't wait to see what would happen next or how they would work together to save the day. She laughed a lot and has asked to watch it again. So to me, that's a hit!

My husband and I also enjoyed the movie. While it is geared for the young there is something for everyone in this movie... just like the other 'Buddies' movies. My husband was all about it because he loves superheroes and he thought this was a great way for them to bond over superheros while she is still too young for his action/adventure movies. I was won over by the theme of the movie. We are living in a time of teaching our children about bullies. This movie took that theme and turned into something we could really talk about. It made it appropriate for her level. We were able to look at this bully from outer-space and talk about how it wasn't very nice. And talk about the great actions of the Buddies and how they worked together in the name of goodness.

This movie comes at the perfect time in our house. We are headed back to school in a few weeks and we are going into the school year as Super Buddies.... there to be kind to everyone. We had a great time watching this movie as a family. Action, adventure, humor, and moral lessons all tied up in a fun family movie!

Saturday, August 24, 2013

All Rufus Leroy Williams III wants to do is go to school so he can learn to read his favorite book… but there's one problem… he's a pig! The Principal has been very clear – no pigs allowed in school! This charming, original, and child-friendly picture book is the perfect first-day-of-school story.

My Thoughts:

With back-to-school right around the corner we are busy trying to get our daughter ready for her first day of Preschool! Rufus Goes To School is now one of her favorite books to read before bed as she excitedly awaits the first day. My husband and I really enjoy reading this story to our daughter because it makes school seem like a very exciting and fun place. We were able to talk about all the fun things she will get to do. And while there may not be a silly pig at her school.... she is looking forward to all the adventures in store for her.

This is a fun book with fabulous illustrations. I would highly recommend this story for kids getting ready to head off to school for the first time... or those returning after a long summer. It's lighthearted and silly... and just what they need to create a positive outlook on the first day of school!

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Time sure flies when you have a new baby. It seems like just yesterday we were bringing our newest bundle home from the hospital and now we are constantly on our toes as he becomes more and more active everyday!

We recently reached his 8 month milestone and with that came the adventurous world of pulling up... on everything. Now all he wants to do is move move move! His favorite activity is holding onto our hands and walking around the house. So it was time to introduce him to shoes. For a baby that has been barefoot since birth this was a big deal for all of us. And I am so happy his first pair of shoes were ROBEEZ!

We received a pair of the Cool Shane Soft Soles and we just love everything about them. They are perfect for walking around the house and doing a little exploring outside on the grass. My son is notorious for pulling on his socks until he gets them off. We have not been able to find a pair he can keep on, so we were worried he would pull shoes right off too. But the design of these shoes is perfect because he can't get them off. They have an elasticized ankle band keeping them on but not making them too tight.

We have a lot of hardwood around our house, so I am so happy that these soft soles have a non-slip suede outsole. Making it easy for this guy to get around. I love knowing that our little guy can wear some soft sole shoes to help keep his feet underneath him and practice his walking. And these shoes are approved by The American Podiatric Medical Association... even better!

I would highly recommend you check out ROBEEZ for your little ones shoes. They are comfy, stylish, cute and affordable. The pair we received retails for only $25.00. You can visit ROBEEZ online to learn more and view their entire selection of shoes for boys and girls.

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Back-to-school is right around the corner! So it's time to get back into the swing of making lunches to go. Visit OMGuac to learn about different ways to make delicious lunches! You can learn how to make tow different lunches using the same ingredients.... saving you time and money. You can also grab a coupon while you're there!

Snap a picture of your OMGuac lunch for your chance to win a $100 gift card and FREE Wholly Guacamole!

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

We are big Purex fans in this house and frequently use Purex laundry detergent. So I was happy to give the Purex fabric softener dryer sheets a try. They are available in two fantastic scents.... Mountain Breeze and Sweet Lavender. We received the Mountain Breeze scent I am hooked!

With 3x the fragrance I am able to add freshness and softness to my laundry by simply tossing one of these sheets into the dryer with my sheets. I especially love to use them when I am washing towels or sheets because everything comes out smelling to fresh and clean! They also help to reduce static cling and repel pet hair and lint.

Purex also made the fantastic suggestion to use the dryer sheets around the house to keep things smelling fresh. By tucking them away in drawers, the laundry hamper, inside your shoes, or any other place you can think of, you can enjoy the fantastic fresh scent even more. I decided to put some sheets into my drawers and my clothes smell amazing.

I really enjoyed having the opportunity to check out these fabric softener sheets and enjoying the fresh scent they provide. I would highly recommend you check them out. Be sure to follow Purex on facebook for all of the latest news and offers.

Monday, August 12, 2013

Last summer we found out we were expecting our second child. I was so excited and immediatley started researching all the necessary items for parents of two. This included a double stroller. I quickly became overwhelmed with all the choices (front back, sit stand, side by side!) and the pure size of them. I started to question if we really needed one. Our daughter would be 3 and a half by the time the baby came and she was at the point where she always wanted to walk and refused to ride in the stroller.

So my ultimate decision was that we could do without a double stroller. Our little boy was born in December and by April we were seeing beautiful weather. I piled the kids in the car, loaded up our single stroller, and headed off to the zoo. Twenty minutes into our visit I was standing there by myself with an infant asleep in the stroller and a toddler screaming that she was too tired to walk anymore. She wanted him out...now!

Needless to say... I headed home and we began the hunt for the right double stroller for us. We finally found it.... the Joovy ScooterX2 is exactly what we need!

My husband and I are big fans of Joovy products in general. We have several of their items and have been pleased with the quality, design, and ease of use they provide parents. So Joovy was one of the top brands we were looking at. But I had no idea we would be so lucky as to be able to test one out for review!

We wanted a side by side because we loved the idea of our kids interacting in the stroller. They can talk and look at things together and everyone has a perfect view (especially important when we head back to the zoo!).

A crucial feature that the Joovy ScooterX2 offers is that it's designed to carry up to 90 pounds. Since we were starting out with our daughter already being around 35 pounds we wanted to make sure we had a stroller that would last us. This weight limit is fantastic and not often seen. This gives us room to grow!

Another very important feature is that this stroller is only 30 inches wide. Which means it will easily fit through doorways. I can't even imagine having to fold up a stroller to get through doorways. This gives us the freedom to take our stroller anywhere and not have to worry.

Pushing this stroller is a breeze. It's a smooth ride that is easy to control. The wheels have sealed bearings and the handle bar goes all the way across so I can hold it where I'm comfortable. The canopy is huge! It provides as little or as much shade as we need and there is a clear window in the top that can be covered or open so you can peak through at your little ones.

The seats are fully adjustable and each one is independent. So my little guy can lay back and take a nap while my daughter is upright and enjoying the scenery. The removeable bumper bar is a nice feature that is easy to open up or take off. And the 5 point harnesses make me feel like my kids are safe.

There are two cup holders on the back and zippered pockets. I love that because I can put some money and my phone in there and not worry about them falling out. The basket underneath is big and fits everything we could possibly need while out and about. We had a diaper bag, beach bag, two blankets, and some toys under there the other day. It was great! I didn't have to carry a thing.

This stroller is lightweight enough for me to handle it all on my own and fits in my trunk with room to spare. We love the color and can always spot our stroller in a crowd. I would highly recommend the Joovy ScooterX2 for anyone looking for a high quality, well designed, fun and functional double stroller for kids of any age.

* A product was received by the company for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and have not been influenced in any way.

Friday, August 9, 2013

What goes together perfectly? A child and this bubbly, spirited picture book about all kinds of things that belong with each other! It’s filled with rhythm and rhyme that begs to be read aloud, and illustrated with sunshine-bright, joyful art. “We go together like ice cream and cone” shows kids gazing in delight at huge scoops of multicolored ice cream, while a puppy smiles happily at his piled-high bowl in “We go together like dog and bone.” For “fire and dragon,” the appealing green creature toasts marshmallows with his own breath, and adorable cows fiddle, dance, and leap in “cow and moo.” Of course, the satisfying ending has the best pair-up of all: mother and child in a big hug with an “I love you” and two hearts intertwined.

My Thoughts:

My daughter and I really enjoyed reading this book together. Each bright colored page was filled with fun illustrations and fun rhymes. This book was the perfect book to read aloud because it allowed my daughter to be engaged and participate. I would start the saying and she would use the rhyming clues and photos to try and guess what the second part was. Then we went on to find other things that belong together.

This is a great book to share with your young child! It's fun, cute, bright, and engaging!

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Los Angeles, CA - My Little Pony Equestria Girls, the full-length feature introducing an exciting dimension to the incredibly popular My Little Pony brand, is coming to Blu-ray and DVD in the US and Canada on August 6th from Shout! Factory Kids, in collaboration with Hasbro Studios. The DVD, which includes outstanding bonus features, is priced at $16.99 SRP and the Blu-ray/DVD/Digital combo at $24.97 SRP. My Little Pony: Equestria Girls is now available for pre-order at Amazon.com, Target.com and Walmart.com.

When Twilight Sparkle’s crown is stolen from the Crystal Empire, she pursues the thief, Sunset Shimmer, into an alternate world where she finds herself turned into…a teenage girl! To regain her crown and return to Equestria, Twilight must learn how to fit into this strange, new world and defeat Sunset Shimmer in a competition to become crowned Princess of the Fall Formal at Canterlot High. Luckily, she will have the assistance of Spike and five teenage girls who remind her of a certain group of ponies back home.

My Thoughts:Another fantastic My Little Pony DVD for my daughter and I to enjoy together. We have been enjoying the adventures of these magical ponies on TV and on DVD for a while now. So getting a chance to enjoy a full-length movie was a real treat!My daughter loved that the pony turned into a girl. And now she pretends to be a pony that has turned into a girl all the time! I love the imagination and creativity that My Little Pony has instilled in my daughter. I also enjoy the messages of friendship and teamwork that can be found throughout the series, as well as the new full-length movie. If you have a My Little Pony fan in life you should check this out!

Saturday, August 3, 2013

If there was one chore in the world that I wish I could give up it would have to be the laundry. Ever since we had our second child it feels like the laundry has tripled. How can 4 people.... 2 of them being so small... make so much laundry?!?

Doing the laundry is a thankless job. Every time I get a load done I walk by the hamper and see it filling all over again. It takes a lot of time and energy to get it done and then you are doing it all over again... and again and again. So I am always on the hunt to find products that will save me time and money, while not sacrificing the quality we need in terms of a laundry detergent. We are dealing with a 4 year old and an infant... so we need some tough stain fighting power!

I was really excited when I was offered the opportunity to try S2O laundry detergent sheets because by just using one sheet I am getting the laundry power of detergent, fabric softener, and stain remover. By having all this cleaning power in one sheet you are spending less than 20 cents per load. Not to mention saving time and space.

These sheets are really fantastic and have a great fresh scent. They are safe to use on any machine.... high efficiency, front loading and top loading washers. And they are safe for sensitive skin, infant clothing, and or use on all fabric types and colors.

These sheets have been saving us time and money and we have been so happy with the results. Our laundry has been coming out bright, fresh, clean, and smelling great. We have been using it on our whites, colors, jeans, and baby clothes. I love just having one little tub of laundry sheets on my shelf rather then the multiple containers and bottles I used to have. A 100 sheet tub retails for about $19.99 and can be found at CVS, Bed Bath and Beyond, Walgreens, and other retailers. I would recommend you check them out!